The Stoves &
Flue Guide to
Choosing and
Using Your Wood
Burning Stove
Choose & Use
©2015 Stoves and Flue (Wigan) Ltd
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The Stoves & Flue Guide to Choosing and
Using Your Wood Burning Stove
Introduction:
Wood Burning and Multi-Fuel stoves are designed to be the very heart of your home and will give
an elegant and stylish addition to any living area.
If you are buying a new stove for the first time; looking for advice on maintenance or how to use
your stove efficiently, the Stoves and Flue Guide to Choosing and Using Your Wood Burning
Stove will provide you with all the right information.
If this is your first look into the world of Wood Burning or Multi-fuel Stoves, it can all seem a little
confusing.
Whether you want to burn solid fuels such as logs, smokeless fuels or peat / turf briquettes, or
have the ‘switch on’ convenience of gas or electricity, Stoves & Flue offer a wide range of
expertly crafted designs from contemporary to traditional, giving you the flexibility required for
modern day living.
Consider the role of the stove in your home – some homeowners will
purchase a stove to heat a certain room in the house; others may want to
supply both their domestic hot water and central heating, while some
may simply want to create a stunning focal point!
Either way, there are many stoves in various shapes, sizes and fuel
types that will not only satisfy your heating needs but are also
aesthetically pleasing.
Homeowners looking for a stove to heat up a particular area of the house
should measure the proposed room first, in order to find out the size of the stove required.
To work out the size of the stove you require, please visit our Stove Calculator at
www.stovesandfluewigan.co.uk/stove-calculator-2/
Gas stoves may be the perfect alternative for homeowners looking for ease and convenience.
With their highly realistic coal or log fuel effects, the atmosphere created by modern gas stoves is
exceptional.
An electric stove can also open up new possibilities in your home; conservatory, kitchen, dining
room, bedroom and hallway can all experience the warmth and character of a stove, with the
extra convenience of just plugging the appliance in!
Once you have considered the role of the stove in your home, you may want to consider the style
of your appliance to suit the interior decor of your house.
Whether you live in a modern city apartment or a traditional country cottage, we have a range of
stoves to suit the outlook and the location of your home.
Most of our stoves can also be selected in any of our colour options to suit your home and our
website will provide you with the various colours available.
Please see our Colour Chart at: www.stovesandfluewigan.co.uk/stove-paint/
©2015 Stoves and Flue (Wigan) Ltd
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Fuel Types:
Stoves & Flue offer a wide choice of traditional and contemporary wood burning, multi-fuel, gas
and electric stoves. Homeowners choose their fuel type for many reasons – some may choose a
wood burner due to its carbon neutral benefits whilst others prefer the ease and convenience of a
gas or an electric stove.
With modern technology available, homeowners are no longer limited to certain stove models for
their homes. Today, houses without a chimney can also benefit from our ranges.
So, what is a wood burning stove?
A wood burning stove is designed to specifically burn wood or logs
rather than other solid fuels, as the airflow in the appliance has been
specially constructed to get the best performance from wood.
Internally, a wood burning stove does not have a grate or ash pan on
the floor of the stove.
If you plan to burn a combination of materials such as peat or turf
briquettes and other smokeless fuels in your stove, consider a multi-fuel
stove which has a riddling grate.
Why buy a wood burning stove?
Today, homeowners are considering buying a wood burning stove for many reasons.
Owning a wood burning stove helps reduce household costs, especially with consistently rising
gas and electricity prices.
Depending on the heat output and the usage, a wood burning stove could use up to £150 worth of
wood per year, but this amount will be significantly less than the cost of gas and electricity over
the same period.
Another reason to purchase a wood burning stove is the eco-friendly lifestyle choice it offers
many homeowners.
Wood is better in environmental terms, as the amount of carbon dioxide released into the
atmosphere is approximately the same as that absorbed by the tree during growth.
This term is often referred to as the “carbon neutral process”. By using wood as your fuel source
for your stove, you are in fact offsetting your carbon footprint and becoming carbon-neutral.
Multi-Fuel Stoves:
A multi-fuel stove means you are able to burn a combination of
logs, smokeless fuels or peat or turf briquettes.
Multi-fuel stoves also have a riddling grate, which allows ash to
be collected into a built-in ash pan; as these fuels burn best with
air entering from beneath the fire and allowing for more efficient
combustion.
Multi-fuel Stoves have all the advantages of a wood burning
stove, with the added convenience of being able to burn a variety
of other types of fuel.
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Gas Stoves:
If a solid fuel stove isn’t suitable for your home or your needs, many
gas stoves can provide an aesthetically pleasing alternative or be
your preferred method of fuel for a stove.
Featuring the same or very similar styling, many of our gas stoves are
based on their solid fuel equivalents.
Gas stoves offer a combination of convenience and ambient warmth
from the press of a button.
Developed by innovative engineers, gas stoves have highly realistic fire effects with either log or
coal fuel beds. The convenience a button allows you to experience the warmth and the beautiful
dancing flames instantly.
Most gas stoves can also be upgraded to operate via a remote control, including a version that
features a thermostat and programmable time periods just like central heating.
Electric Stoves:
The versatility of an electric stove means that you can install it
easily and use instantly.
The electric stoves we supply are highly efficient and come in a
variety of designs from traditional to modern and suit all pockets
and locations – all without the need of a chimney!
Based on their solid fuel equivalents, you can enjoy the aesthetics
of the stoves with the convenience of a switch.
These electric stoves produce realistic fire effects. With many of
the designs the heater controls for each stove are discreetly
located under the stove and can be operated using a remoter control device.
The beauty of an electric stove is that you can enjoy the flame visual without the heat output –
perfect for those warmer evenings!
What are the latest stove designs?
The extensive design ranges from many different stove manufacturers have allowed homeowners
to select from a variety of models.
Whether you are looking to upgrade your existing wood
burning stove or thinking of a new stove, there are wood
burning stoves for all types of home.
You can even install a wood burning stove in properties
without chimneys by using fully sealed twin wall flue
systems!
As one of the UK’s foremost suppliers of wood burning
stoves, Stoves & Flue (Wigan) Ltd have a wide range of
models from which to choose.
With both Traditional and Contemporary styles of stove
available, a visit to the showroom will be well worth while.
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Hot Water & Central Heating?
If you are looking to invest in a wood burning stove that can heat up
both your domestic hot water and central heating, we are able to offer a
wide selection of contemporary and traditional boiler stoves to suit your
home.
Some models can even be purchased at a lower VAT rate. With the
growing interest in becoming more eco-friendly, the Government has
introduced the ‘Energy-Saving Materials’ scheme which allows
homeowners to buy certain stoves at a VAT of just 5%.
No Chimney?
Properties without chimneys now also have the choice to add a wood burning stove.
A twin-wall flue pipe system allows rooms without chimneys to enjoy
the benefits of a wood burning stove. Homeowners can even choose
from a selection of twin wall components to suit both the internal and
external style of their home.
Another major development in stove design is the ability to install a
wood burning stove in homes that are in major towns and cities often
referred to as “Smoke Control Areas”.
These homes are not allowed to emit any smoke from their chimney
when using a wood burning stove, therefore, homes within the Smoke Control Areas that have a
non-exempt appliance may only burn a list of authorised fuels that can be found on the DEFRA
website.
Installation?
Once you have found a suitable wood burning stove for your home, it is important that you have it
professionally installed.
The installation has to be carried out safely, efficiently and adhere to installation compliance.
Using an accredited HETAS installer means that your installation and servicing is carried out
properly by a trained and competent individual.
To conclude, there are many positive benefits of owning a wood burning stove. Not only
will it enable you to reduce your monthly outgoings but it will also provide your home a
carbon neutral, wholly sustainable heat source!
©2015 Stoves and Flue (Wigan) Ltd
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First Things First:
The importance of a site survey:
When installing a new stove, or updating an
old one, a site survey will help you to find the
best type of appliance, flue system and
location of the stove for your home, as well as
providing you with an accurate quotation of
cost.
Before purchasing your new stove, we highly recommend that you have a site survey carried out
to establish the appliance’s suitability to your home.
A site survey needs to be completed by a suitably qualified engineer (HETAS registered installer)
before installing any stove to your home.
You can arrange this by calling Stoves & Flue on 01942 216 088.
During a typical site survey, our engineer will take into consideration the appropriate heat output
for the room, the relevant location within the house and the most suitable flue system for your
stove.
If you are currently replacing an existing stove, the survey will look at the requirements of the
Building Regulations or recommend any changes that have to be made to comply.
If the installation is new, the site survey will identify the requirements for the hearth, flue system,
ventilation and clearances to any combustible materials to maintain safe use.
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Getting the best out of your stove:
Even the best wood-burning or multi-fuel stoves need your help, if you want to heat your home
efficiently and, at the same time, protect the environment from harmful particles.
Ultimately, it is a matter of how you use your stove – and of course, what you burn in it.
You can do both yourself and the environment a big favour by following these recommendations:
Choose a stove which complies with the strictest requirements on particle
emissions.
Make sure your chimney is the correct size in relation to the stove. A good draw
is essential for optimum combustion.
Never burn waste, cardboard packaging, printed matter or wood that has been
painted or in some other way treated.
Make sure the wood is clean and dry. Moisture content of max 16-20% gives
the best and cleanest combustion (and also less soot on the glass).
Never overfill the stove and avoid using oversized logs
Air is important for good combustion and good economy. Before the wood
burns, enough air needs to be added that flames are produced.
Don’t leave the stove burning overnight. Leaving your stove burning overnight
is bad for your wallet and the environment.
Lighting your Stove:
Before you start using your stove, there are a few things which you need to bear in mind.
The first couple of times you use the stove, keep the fires small to allow the paint to cure before
making full use of the stove.
The air control settings, lighting methods and the firing intervals will vary depending on the
chimney draught, the wind direction and climatic conditions, the heating requirements and the fuel
being used.
Therefore, it may take a while before you are completely familiar with how to operate your stove
correctly under various conditions.
Although you can use your stove with almost all kinds of wood, you should never use wet or
green wood.
Wood should be stored under cover for at least 1 year, and preferably 2 years, and open to the
air. Wood should be chopped as soon as possible after felling if it is to
dry quickly.
Never use driftwood as it usually has a high salt content, which
damages both the stove and the chimney.
Impregnated wood, laminate and chipboard may emit poisonous gases
and fumes and should therefore not be used as fuel.
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Logs with a diameter exceeding 100mm (4”) should always
be split.
Logs should be short enough to lie flat over the layers of
embers, with a min 1″ air gap at either end.
The most environment friendly way to ignite a fire is socalled “top-down” lighting.
Such ignition is done by placing the kindling relatively high
in the pile of firewood placed in the burn chamber.
This way, the gasses burn gradually as the fire works its way down the pile of wood.
You will need:
2 fire lighters’ (or 5-10 scrunched-up sheets of newspaper)
1 kg of dry kindling
Approx. 1-1½kg of chopped firewood
You should always have an insulating layer of ashes from
previous firings in the bottom of the fire chamber.
2-3 cm of ash is a suitable base for the wood.
Start by placing a couple of logs, approximately 500g, in the bottom of the burn chamber.
Place approximately 1kg of dry kindling wood on top of the logs.
Place some crumpled paper (or a couple of fire lighters) below the top layer of kindling wood.
Light the paper (or fire lighters). The flames work their way
slowly downwards from the top.
After 5-10 minutes the heat will produce draught through the
chimney, and the door can be shut.
After approximately 35-40 minutes, when the last flames go
out. More wood should be added while there are still
embers.
Use a poker or ash scraper to spread the embers, but
ensure that most of them are at the front of the stove.
When the air controls are opened fully, and the door is closed, the wood will ignite within 2-3
minutes.
Finally, adjust the air supply control to the required position
to give optimal combustion. Maintaining a good fire box
temperature will ensure secondary combustion of the smoke
and gases giving a clean and efficient burn.
The stove should be refuelled before only glowing embers
remain.
Enjoy your new stove...
©2015 Stoves and Flue (Wigan) Ltd
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Why is the glass in my stove covered with soot?
Soot will appear on the glass if the combustion temperature is too low or if the lighting period is
too short.
When lighting the stove a lot of air must be supplied to warm up the chimney.
Open the riddling grate and the air controls. If necessary, open the door a bit to supply as much
air as possible. When the kindling has turned into embers, dry wood is added.
Plenty of air must still be supplied.
Close the riddling grate and primary air supply when the blue/purple flames have disappeared.
The combustion is now exclusively controlled by the secondary air controls. The combustion
temperature is increased by supplying more secondary air and at the same time by keeping the
riddling grate and primary air control closed.
Wet wood or poor draught conditions might also cause sooty glass. Ensure that the wood is dry
before trying to burn it.
How do I remove dirt from the door glass?
The glass can be cleaned by using an approved
glass cleaner. (Glass Cleaner is available from the
Stoves & Flue online shop.)
Alternatively warm soapy water and newspaper
can be used but only when the stove is cold.
How often should the stove be cleaned for soot and ashes?
The stove needs to be cleaned and serviced fully at least once a year. But naturally depending on
how much the stove is used.
Note that the stove must be cold when cleaned.
How do I clean the inside of the stove?
Remove the baffle and clean it with a brush and vacuum. Note that the stove must be cold when
cleaned up.
The surface will be kept well if vacuum cleaned with a soft nozzle. If necessary wipe the stove
with a moist cloth, but only when the stove is completely cold.
Be careful when choosing cleaning materials as the paint may be damaged by acid.
The ash pan must be emptied 2 or 3 times a week in an ash bucket where the ashes are to be
kept until they are free from embers. The ashes cannot be used as fertiliser.
How do I clean the surface of an enamelled stove?
Wipe the stove with a moist cloth, but only when the stove is cold.
Use distilled water with a mild detergent or soap. Remember to remove the soap before lighting
the stove.
Enamel is a strong material that does not change appearance unless the stove has been
exposed to bumps or scratches.
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How do I clean the surface of a painted stove?
The surface will be kept well if vacuum cleaned with a soft nozzle. If necessary wipe the stove
with a moist cloth, but only when the stove is completely cold.
Be careful when choosing cleaning materials as the paint may be damaged by acid.
If necessary, use mild detergent or brown soap. The painted surface may get a grey tinge over
time; but the stove can easily be freshened up with a special heat-resistant spray-paint, which can
be bought from the Stoves & Flue online shop.
The stove must dry 24 hours before being used again. Some fumes may be given off by the paint.
These are not harmful but ventilate the room well.
Maintenance:
You can obtain maintenance products and more helpful advice
about stove maintenance from Stoves & Flue.
We stock installation and maintenance products – fireplace
mortar, ceramic insulation rope, gasket kit for doors, paint,
stove kit, glass cleaner, stove blacking etc.
Please ensure that you use the correct spares and maintenance
products.
The sealing rope in the door is loose, or has come away. What do I do?
The sealing rope in the door becomes worn after it has been in use for some time, and can start
coming away.
The seal is fitted using our Rope Seal Adhesive.
When replacing the seal, the surface must be cleaned thoroughly with steel wool or a steel brush.
How do I remove scratches and marks?
If there are marks on the stove or it simply needs painting to freshen it up, you must clean the
surface first.
Rust can be removed using fine steel wool, then painted using heat resistant spray paint –
available in 25 colours from the Stoves and Flue online shop.
There is soot in the chimney, how did that happen?
If the temperature is too low you might experience tarry soot in your chimney. The combustion
temperature will be too low if not enough air is supplied, compared to the amount of wood.
Tarry soot is easily recognised as a brown sticky coat. Supply
more secondary air to increase the temperature.
A stove flue thermometer placed on the lower part of the flue
pipe will indicate if the air supply is correct. The flue gas
temperature must be approx. 250°C. If the flue gas
temperature is considerably lower, tarry soot may be created in
the chimney.
If the flue gas temperature exceeds 250 – 300°C, the inside
parts might be superheated.
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Smoke is coming out into my living room when I open the stove door. How do I avoid that?
The stove must never be operated with the door open; the door
should only be fully opened during refuelling.
Smoke may be emitted into the room at the time of refuelling if
the stove is burning at a very low rate.
To overcome this either turn the stove to full rate, or open the
door slightly (1 or 2 cm) for a few minutes before adding any
additional fuel.
If the door is left open for too long (2 minutes or so) during the
refuel procedure, a large amount of cool air will be drawn into
the chimney chilling the flue gases and slowing the draft.
This will result in smoke and fumes coming back in the room; the refuelling time should be kept to
a minimum.
If smoke is persistent, and the stove is difficult to light and maintain a good burn rate, there may
be a problem with the chimney draught. You should consult with your installer or a qualified
chimney sweep.
There is not enough draught in the chimney. What should I do?
If the chimney is too short, has inadequate insulation or is
leaky, there may be problems; get a chimney sweep to check it
and measure the flue draught.
If the above possible problems have been eliminated, extend
the lighting period, to ensure the chimney is well heated.
The draw on the chimney will be greater when it is hot. This is
achieved by using lots of kindling and 2-3 firelighters.
After igniting the firelighters leave the stove door slightly ajar about 2 to 3cm for 5 to 10 minutes.
When the majority of flame have died down and there is a good amount of glowing embers add 23 pieces of dry wood and keep the air supply open.
On chimneys with slower flue draughts it may be necessary to leave the stove door slightly ajar
again until the logs fully ignite. Once a good flame has been established and the door closed the
air control can be set to the desired position.
If you have an old brick chimney with a large inner diameter, it can be a good idea to reduce the
area with a liner. Seek the help of a HETAS engineer.
The glass in my stove has cracked.
Cracks on the glass may happen due to spits from the wood. Or
impurities may be found in the wood such as pebbles that may
hit the glass during the combustion.
If the glass has cracked, it naturally has to be replaced.
Replacing the glass yourself is a fairly simple job. If you’re
unsure about your ability or would prefer, talk to your local
dealer.
©2015 Stoves and Flue (Wigan) Ltd
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AND FINALLY
Stoves & Flue (Wigan) Ltd stock only the best brand names in the industry, bringing you the
best models they have to offer. These range from cutting edge wall mounted designs, to rustic log
burning stoves, and everything in between.
Whatever you are looking for, we can assure you that you’ll find it here, and for less than you
expect!
We are officially licensed by HETAS, the Government recognised body responsible for approving
solid fuel fireplaces, and those who install them. We are also licensed by Gas Safe, who list
individuals and businesses licensed to carry out gas fuel installations.
This serves to back up our professional installation promise.
Warning – Disclaimer
The purpose of this guide is to educate and entertain. The author and / or publisher
do not guarantee that anyone using this guide will be able to install or use their stove
effectively. The author and / or publisher shall have neither liability nor responsibility
to anyone with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to be caused,
directly or indirectly by the information contained in this book.
© 2015 Stoves and Flue (Wigan) Ltd
This Guide has been produced by
Stoves and Flue (Wigan) Ltd
639 - 641 Ormskirk Road
Wigan WN5 8AG
01942 216 088
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted in any form or by any other means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher.
©2015 Stoves and Flue (Wigan) Ltd
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